Pen control mechanism for paper ruling machine



Aug. 31,, 1948. R. J. THOMPSON 2,448,285

PEN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PAPER RULING MACHINE Filed March 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Aug. 31, 1948. R. J. THOMPSON PEN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PAPER RULING MACHINE Filed Ma rch 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR Foazzn/ mam/ 6' 0H ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 31, 1948 PEN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PAPER RULING MACHINE Robert J. Thompson, Harrisburg, Pa., assignor to The W. 0. Hickok Mfg. Co., Harrisburg, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 2, 1944, Serial No. 524,766

This invention relates to apen control mechanism for paper ruling machines.

-In the paper r-uling art, it is the conventional practice to connect a plurality of pens to a pen beam and to supply ink to such pens to rule lines on paper sheets fed through the machine beneath the pens. The spacing of the lines, of course, is determined in accordance with the positions of the pens along the pen beam, which extends transversely of the. direction of movement of the paper. In struck line ruling, it hasbeen the common practice to provide cam means engageable with an arm connected to a pivoted pen beam support to move such arm upwardly and liftthe pens from the paper at the point where the ruled lines are to terminate. The pens are biased downwardly toward the paper to move into engagement therewith after the arm is released by the cam means.

The biasing means employed for tending to move the pens into engagement with the paper is in the form of a springer springs. These springs, in order to swing the pens into engagement with the paper, must overcome the inertia of the pens, the pen beam and the various elements connected thereto. .As a result it has been found, as efforts have been made to increase thev speed of production of machines of this charactenthat the biasing springs have a given maximum speed with which they can properly move the pens into engagement with the paper. The production speed of the entire machine is thus limited in accordance with the speed of operation of the biasing springsreferred to.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved pen beam swinging means whereby the limitations of the spring means referred to are overcome, thus permitting a substantialincrease in the speed of production of a ruling machine.

-A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character wherein the cam means is utilized for. positively moving the pens into engagement with the paper, thus permitting the starting points of the lines to be positively and exactlyv determined.

A further object is to provide novel motion transmitting means between the, cam means and the pen beam support for effecting downward movement of the pens into engagement with the paper upon upward movement transmitted by the cams to the cam-engaging arm A further object is to provide such a mechanism wherein the motion transmitting means includes an element releasable from the cam-en- 4 Claims. (Cl. 33 39) gaging arm to permit upward movement of the pens from thepaper when it is desired to render the apparatus inoperative, for example, when providing a different pen adjustment.

A further object is to provide a device of the character just referred to wherein the releasable element is so constructed as to provide either for the slight'elevation of the pens fromthe paper independentlyof the cam operation, or to permit the pen beams to be swung to a substantial extent, when desired. 7 i

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

' 1 In the drawings I have-shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure, 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the apparatusshowing the present invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on line .0.

Figure 3 is a similar view on line 33 of Fig.- ure 1, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 4 is a similar view on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on line 5- -5 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the cam operated arm mechanism showing the parts separated. v

Referringv to the drawings the numeral l0 designates one of the side rails of the main frame of a paper ruling machine. Between such rail and the opposite corresponding rail (not shown) a pen beam H extends transversely of the apparatus and is provided with a plurality of pens one of which is shown in Figure land is generally indicated by the numeral 12. The pen beam and the pens carried thereby may be of any conventional type and form no part of the present invention per se, and it will be obvious that ink may be fed to the pens by any desired means. Opposite ends of the pen beam are secured by screws l3 or any other'suitable means to a horizontally extending pen beam supporting flange l4.

Each flange I4 is a preferably integral part of a pen beam support'indicated as a whole by the numeral 15, and it will be obvious that one of these devices is employed at each side of the apparatus. Each support I5 further includes a depending integral flange l6 lying against or adjacent the corresponding end of the pen beam II, and the flange I6 carries a cylindrical projection I! forming a conventional ball and socket to receive a ball (8 carriedby a threaded stem I9 pen beam. The stem I9 is adapted to be fixediin l adjusted position by a jam nut 25 preferably having an operating handle ififformed integral therewith.

The means for supporting the other end of the pen beam may be conventional, .inc1udinga-Yvertically adjustable cross head and a pen beamsupporting shaft rotatable in such cross "head and slidable endwise upon adjustment of the stem '19. At the -sideof the apparatus :shown in the drawings, the pen-beam support is provided with an upstanding integral lug 21 (Figures 2 and' l) to pivotallyisupport an adjustable rocker 28. This-rocker isprovided'intermediate its ends with depending lips "29 at opposite sides thereof and a screw-or other pivot pin 3|) extends through -the lips 29 'and through the lug 27. Thus the rocker 28- is supported by the pen beam-support |5 and is adapted to turn on the axis of the pin 3B. The rocker 28 is adapted to be 'fixed in adjustedpositions. For this purpose -screws 3| "are "threaded through the rocker 28 on opposite sides of the pivot 30-and have their lowerends engageable --against the topof the flange l4. These screws are obviously adjustableto change the 'angular position of the rocker 28-relativeto-=the support -|5. Each screw 3| is provided with a jam nut 32 preferably of the same type as "the jam nut 25. The upper ends of thegscrews 3| are providedwith knurled heads 53 and one of these heads carries-a ring 34 terminating in a hook '35 for a purpose to be described.

One end of thevrocker 28 is provided with a projecting "fork 3'6 and "between the arms of this fork is arranged a rod or bar 3]. Apivo-t pin 38 extends through the "bar 31 .and through the arms of the fork '35 and carries a nut :39 on one end thereof. The opposite end of the ,pivot member 38 carries an enlarged stud 40 seating against the adjacent "fork arm v35. The arm 31 is provided in one face thereof toward its lower end witha relatively large notch 4,| havirig .a .lower horizontal face 42, and below this notch .is formed a .second .notch .4.3 having a lower horizontal face '44 for a, ur.pose to be described.

Thebar ,3] carrie'sua screw .42 ,to one :end of which is connected a-spring 4.3 and the other end .of this springds fixed as at 44 to \therocker 28. This spring obviously tends to swing the bar .31 in a clockwisadirection about the pivot pin 38. ,Thisaction {renders the bar .35 normally automatically operative for performing its intended function as will be describeddater.

A supporting bracket indicated as a whole by the numeral 4.6 (Figures 2 :and :3) .is "provided with :a vertical depending rportion -:4:| bolted as at 48 :to the :rail H! of the zmain supportin frame. :Beneath the :pen beam I'M, -Ithe abracket extends laterally as :at :48 .and then upwardly at an angle :asat .49 (Figured) :to terminate in a widened rhorizontal portion 150. The freelend of the bracket portion 50 is provided with a pivot pin 5| fixed to the bracket by a set screw 52.

An operating lever 54 is formed with a normally substantially horizontal portion 55 (Figures 2 and 6) intermediate the ends of which is formed an opening 56 (Figures 5 and 6) for rotatably receiving the pivot pin 5|. This pin projects beyond the lever 5'4 and issu-rrounded by a torsion spring 51 one end of which is arranged in a slot 58 in the end of the pivot pin .54 -.and;the other-end of which engages beneath rthezhoriz-ontal portion 55 of the lever 54. The

spring 5? tends to swing the operating lever 54 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure '2. The end of the lever 54 remote from "the'bar 51 turns downwardly as at 59 and terminates inaqforkl-lin rotatably upporting a roller 5| for apurpose to be described.

A small bracket 63 has one end secured to the top of the bracket arm 5|) and has its other end "64 ofifset upwardly and :extending transversely over the lever arm *55. A set screw extends through :the bracket arm 64 and is locked :in position *by a jam inut 66, preferably provided with an operating i-handle as in the case or" each of the -other j-am nuts previously referred to. The set screw 65 eontacts the lever portion 55420 the righto'f the -pivotpin="5| (Figure 1) to linutswinging movement of the lever 55 in a counterclockwise direction. The "adjacent end of 'the =lever portion 55 terminates in an edge :51 which is normally arranged in the notch 4i in engagement with the horizontal face 42. It will'be apparent that any upward movement of the roller 6| will swing thelever 55 in'a clockwise direction to pull downwardly on the bar I3"! and thus rock the rocker "28, support i5 and the pen beam in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2.

"This :operation :moves the pens into engagement with the paper. Means is provided for limiting such movement of the pen beam and the elements connected thereto. The stud 40 is provided'with a set screw '10 threaded therethrough. This set screw is preferably provided with an upper knurled head 11 and a lower contact foot 312 engageable with the "bracket portion 5'0. 'The set screw 10 isadjusted'to limit turning movement o'f ethe rocker 28 at the point where the :pens carried by-the penbeam-engage the paper. "This positive limitation of turning movement of the pen "beam is important since it permits swinging movement of the pen beam upon operation of the 1ever 54 without permitting the pen's to strike the paper under undue pressure regardless 'of "the speed of operation of the lever 54. Proper adjustment of @the "set screw :15 is maintained .by a jam nut 13 also preferably provided with a convenient R operating handle, as shown in Figure 3. The operation of l the 'lever 54 is effected by cam means to -be described :and the "parts are returned to normal position by -a tension spring -14 connected at -it's upper end 'the'hook '55 and at its lower end to the bracket 46. Of course, the specific points of connection of the spring -14 are not important.

TA shaft T16 I extends transversely of the apparatus parallel to the pen beamand is supported in suitable bearings (not shown). This shaft carries a wheel M "having an inner relatively deep groove 18 'andan outer relatively shallow groove extending around its periphery. Cam elements "80 are arranged in the groove 18 I and similar :but narrower cam -elements 8| are -ar-" beam; as will be apparent.

ranged in the groove 19; 7 Suitable set. screws '8'2-are threaded into the wheel 11 to engage the cam elements 81, and similar but longer set screws 83: are threaded in the wheel 11 to encams engage the roller Bl. -It will be apparent that all of the outer edges of all of the cams willbe concentric with the axis of the shaft and of the same radius. Either of'the cams 80 or 8! or two of such cams at the same time may'engage the roller 6| to elevate the corresponding end of the lever 54'to swing the pen The shallow cam groove 19 permits the use of the'set screws 83 radially inwardly of the'groove 19, for engagement with the cam elements 80 as will be obvious. The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The ruling machine maybe of any conventional type employing pen beams having pens carried thereby and suitably spaced according to the desired lining of the paper. The'paper is fed automatically to the ruling machine by means synchronized with the driving of thesh'aft 16 and cam wheels H. tion toithetravelling of a sheet of paper, one of the cams flfl or 8| will engage the roller 6| to elevatethe adi'acent end of the lever 54. The opposite end of this lever, engaging the bottom of the notch 4|, will pull downwardly on the bar 3! to transmit-movement to the rocker 28 and through this element to the support I5 and pen 'beam F to swing these elements in a counterclockwise direction aboutthe axis of the screws l9 as viewed in Figure 2. This operation positively'swings the pens downwardly into engagement with the paper and inertia of the parts is prevented from overswinging the parts by engage- .ment of the foot 12 of the set screw 70 with the the parts of the apparatus stationary and with the roller 64 on top of one of the cams and with the pen s in proper engagement with the paper.

with the parts so positioned,- the jamnut's 32 (Fig. 2) may be loosened and the set screws 3| adjusted to swing the pen beam as may be necessary to properly engage the pens with the paper. The jam nuts 32 are then tightened and the pens will be in proper position with the roller 6| on top of one of the cams. Under such conditions the screw 10 may be turned downwardly until the foot 12 engages the bracket portion 50, whereupon the jam nut 13 may be tightened.

The operation referred to provides for positive and proper engagement of the pens with the paper. The operation is forced to take place positively in accordance with the operation of the cam mechanism and the pens accordingly engage the paper at exactly the right point at each cam operation.

As a cam, or a combination of two of the cams 80 and 8!, pass beyond the roller 6|, the spring 14 rocks the rocker 28, support I5 and the pen beam in a clockwise direction about the end screws I!) to return the parts to inoperative position until the next cam operation occurs.

At the desired point with rela--;

6 The-spring 14 may be relied upon tov quickly move the pens from the paper at the proper point, itbeing necessary to effect only the slightest movement of the pen beam to disengage the pens. The operationof restoring the parts to normalposition also effects upward movement of the bar 31 as the lever 54 turns in a counterclockwise direction. It will be apparent that the .lever 54, rod 31 and pivot pin 38 constitute motion transmitting means, between the cam or cams and the rocker. 28 and the elements carried thereby; The latter elements turn on the axis ofathe end screws l9 while the lever 54 turns on the'axis of the pivot pin 5|. Accordinglythe ends Glof the lever 54 turns on one axis while the pivot pin 38 turns on a wholly different axis.

.However, the pivotal connection of the bar. 3'!

permits relative movement of the point 51. and pivotpin 38 totakeplace without any disengagement. of thegparts. The spring 43 assists in ,maintaining the bar, 31 in proper engagement with the lever 54, and the bar 31 turns slightly aboutmthe pivot pin 38 during the operations referred to- If for any reason it is desired to'renderthe pens inoperative while the apparatus is running, or, at any other time, the upper end of the bar 31 (Figure 2) may be pulled to the left to release the lever end 61 from the notch 4|, whereupon the rocker 28 and associated parts may rock in a clockwise direction about the axis of the screws i9 until the end 51 passes the bottom 42 of the notch 4|. The upper endof the bar 31 then may be released, and further upward movement of the bar 31, as the member 28 rocks, will, cause the lever end 51 to. engage in thenotch 43. Under suchconditions the pen beam will have rocked to an inoperative- -position with the pens held above and out ofqengagement with the paper.

If it is desired for any reason to swing the pen seamv to an-even greater extent, the bar 31 may be moved again in the manner stated to release the'lever end 61 from the notch 43, whereupon the pen beam and associated elements may swing as far as desired. If it is, desired, a small stop may be secured against one side of the rocker 28 with an end 86extending across the rockerto be engaged by vth'ebar 31, above the pivot. 38. .This engagement of the bar-31 with the stop end 86 will limit turning movement of the bar 31 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2, thereby positioning the curved lower end of the bar 31 for engagement with the curved endof the lever 54 which terminates in the end 61. Thus when the bar 31 is completely released from the lever 54 in the manner stated, the rocker 28 and associated parts may be swung back to an operative position and the two curved ends referred to will engage each other and swing the lever 31 so that the lower end thereof will properly pass over the lever end 61 to permit the latter to engage in either of the notches 4| or 43.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present device provides novel means for positively engaging the pens with the paper at the proper point. This eliminates any lag in the operation of the apparatus because of which present machines are limited in their speed of operation. of the present apparatus permits any conventional paper ruling machine to be operated at substantially higher speeds, thus requiring the use of fewer machines for a given plant capacity and substantially reducing costs involved in ruling quantities of paper.

The positive pen engaging operation sa nemesis 17 1t isto be iunderstoo'd tn'at ache Zio'rm nf ithe invention Lherexnith: shown Cand described zis r to be taken as :a ipre'ferred example .of the same and -that various :changes in the shape, ii siz'e rand arlrangementofeparts 'may beiresorted to :as do not idepar-t -from the spirit f the :invention :or the scope 0f the -subj o'ined: claims.

Itlaim:

1. In a=-paper ruling machine i'having avipen beam movably mounted whereby aa'zpen searried by saidbeam'is movable into'and out of contact wit-hithe pap-er;said beambeingdoiased forxmove- --.:ment to disengage-the pen from theipaper,a susppont "positively connected (to the beam, 2. motary member having a cam, a :lever pivotally sup- :pontedinterm'ediate its ends and having one end engargea=ble Joy said calm l to befioperated thereby, land a motion transmitting connection having pivotal I. connection at on'e end with saidieupipont, sa-id motion transmitting connection, alt a z=poimt spaced from said pivotal connection, beinig :notohed to'receive the other "end'of said :lever whereby positive movement f of the .penibeam will be effected to move the pen into contact with -thelpaper upon: actuation of thefifirst mam-ed end def-said lever by said cam.

2. In :a paper ruling mach=ine :having a pen 'iibealm provided*wi-thapaper rulingm-en, means ier-supporting said beam if or :rockin-g movement on 'a horizorrtal axis parallel to'the paper, said -means irre1udinga support connected to thezpen :beam, means: biasing said beam for rocking movel'iment in one dire-otion'to disengage the pen: from ithe 'pape-r, a cam rotatable on an axis parallel 'ito the rocking axis said beam, a lever pivota'lly sumaorted intermediate i its ends and 'ha'ving 'one end --'eng-ageabl-e with said cam t-o nbe ipositively sope-ra'tedithereby; and:amoti-on trans-mibting: element having pivotal ieomieotion with "said sup- '.:port land being -notehed'rtnan-sversely'of its leng th eat Ja spoint spaced iiro m esuch apivotal L connection to receive the other end of SaiJd lever to Iposi itively tr-ansmi-t flm'ovement 'bi'rom .isai-d lever A :is-aid suppont to rock :said :Lpen them in :the cop- Jposite 'zdirection to v mo've ithe men :into contact wi-tih the paper upon operation :of fithei first" named eend ofasaidJ -Ieveribyreaidzcam.

"3. In a rp aper ruling [machine ehavin'g :a pen "beam Y movably mounted whereby nazpen married my said :beam is. "movable .dnto and :out of contact wnn themaperpsaidtbeam being :biased :for movez ment to disengage the :.pen:=from= 'the' paper, :a romarycmem-ber having a ram, ea levern'mounted on 1a z-fixed pivot intermediate iits aends andt-lmving zone ezemi' :engageable 'zbyzi naid aoam vto operated therebmtaand means; for transmittingimotion from said lever "Ito esaid H3811 heam rto eefieot positive movementofiohei'pen :beameto move'ithemenalinto @e'ontaet avith the paper mnonwaotuation ofurbhe :nsamed end of ssaid ilever by wsaid balm, v;=said m'eans comprising a member adjustable :oonineoted torth-e pen beam and; normally sfix'ed relai tive thereto, and annotion transmitting element zmovabl-y veonn-emd J00 :sald last named :member iandihaving avportion shaped for motion transitive movement o'f'rbhe :pen beamztozmove the men into contact with the paper upon ,actuation of |the1first named send ofssaid lever-flay said carnrsai-d means comprising a memberiadjustably connected to .-the :pen beam and normally fixed relative-thereto a, motion transmitting (element movably connecteditosaid las t named memwber and having a ipontion (shaped for -motion transmitting engagement with said lever, said emotion-transmitting elementbeingfmovably con- ,inected t-owsaid last. named member for movement out-of o-en-gagement said tlevier, .and means =biasing ssaid motion transmitting element .inibo engagement with :said lever.

ROBERT J .YTHOMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED .The following sreferences are of s record in =.the

UNITED "STATES PATENTS Number (Name :Date

5157;715 iC'olildns 'etal -Dec. 15,218'74 "FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date :17 '1 ,351 Great Britain .-Mar. 30,1922 

